Earlier today we released our tips to protect yourself as you prepare and file your taxes online. We also published our Spam and Threatscape report for April 2012. Here’s a brief video that outlines our tips for staying safe during tax season. I’ve also included the tips below the video.

The IRS will never initiate contact with a taxpayer through email.

The IRS will never ask for your PIN or credit card information via email.

Never click on a link, or an attachment, from an unsolicited email.

Avoid financial transactions over public or free Wi-Fi hotspots.

Log out when you’re done. Closing the window may not completely end your session.

Avoid using the same computer as your children. Many scam’s today target them and using a machine that is compromised makes you vulnerable.

Lower your risk by using a security suite that includes email and Web filtering solutions with real-time updates.

Be sure to read our April Spam and Threatscape report for the latest tax related spam campaigns, Pinterest scam surveys, and other security stories we’ve been tracking.